StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening. By recording the stories of our lives with the people we care about, we experience our history, hopes, and humanity. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share, and is archived for generations to come at the Library of Congress. Millions listen to our award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, creating a growing portrait of who we really are as Americans. One of my favorite programs on NPR is StoryCorps. I have had many "driveway moments" with this show (sitting in the driveway, not getting out of the car because you want to finish listening to the program). This morning on the way into work I heard that StoryCorps is declaring Friday November 28th the first annual National Day of Listening. I so love this idea. (And I'm actually toying with participating). I urge you to at least take a look. Maybe even participate (it doesn't have to be done on Friday). You can purchase the book or just listen to a few stories. Whatever you do I promise you will be inspired!

Do you remember

losing your first?

November 24th. Subway restaurant on the Golden Strip - 6:30pm. What did it? Turkey on whole wheat with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green peppers, pickles & black olives. A side of raisins and a cold fruit punch. Me: grabbed a napkin, dunked it in cold water and told Cooper to bite down - doing my best to calm Coop down - wasn't sure if he was going to be excited or panic...I was cheering telling Coop how proud I was and overall just giddy in the moment - then took the tooth and washed it off and wrapped it up for safe keeping until tonight... John: "I think I'm gonna be sick..."

More conversations

Cooper is sitting at the table leafing through a "Christmas wish catalog". I said "you shopping buddy"? He points to a remote control boat and says "I want this for Christmas". I said "Cooper, that boat is one hundred dollars. I am not buying you a toy that costs one hundred dollars". "Mom, I SAID, FOR CHRISTMAS"! "Cooper, I don't care if it's for Christmas, that is too much money". And with that child duh don't you know anything sing songy voice..."Mom, at Christmas things don't cost money. Santa doesn't BUY toys he MAKES them." What exactly do you say to that?

Conversations with a 5 year old

Cooper crawled in bed with us at about 7 this morning. As he lay there trying to be very quiet, waiting for it to be time to get up, his mind was clearly buzzing with stuff... A Case for Boogers "Mom, do you remember when Duncan ate that booger"? "Ah, yeah"? "It's still in his body". "You think so"? He shakes his head yes and says "and he's doing fine with it in his body". Haven't I heard this before? I am trying to lay quietly - Cooper constantly looking at the clock... "Mom, it says 7 1 6" "No Cooper, it's not time to get up" "Now it says 7 1 7" "Not yet Cooper" "7 2 1" "Cooper stop" "7 2 5" "COOPER STOP, I KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS"! Cooper gets a very perplexed look on his face and points to the back of my head..."do you have eyes back here"? Who's on 1st? "Mommy, is it tomorrow"? "Ah no, it's today". "When will it be tomorrow"? "It will be tomorrow tomorrow". "When I was at Jane's she said she would take me to Toys R Us tomorrow" "Well that was yesterday and yesterday, tomorrow is today". "But mom, when is tomorrow"? "Well tomorrow is tomorrow, but yesterday tomorrow is today". "No mom, like is it tomorrow when Carla comes...or is it tomorrow on Wednesday...what day is tomorrow"? "Cooper, tomorrow is not a day, tomorrow is always the day after today". "But when IS tomorrow"? *edited for booger misspelling Sunday morning after thinking about it for a day...you knew what I meant right? :)

Welcome Winter

ABC 123

Coop is very much loving learning right now. Every night after his tubby he curls up in our bed and practices letters, words, numbers, adding...anything you give him. It is so cool watching him get excited about learning, it's like he can't get enough. Apparently this is somewhat typical for a kid his age, but it's new to this family and we are loving it!

This is my kitchen

This is my kitchen today. Today there are oranges, pears, apples and bananas. In July there might be grapes, cherries and peaches. The fruit changes, as does the occasional bouquet but the look is the same. For almost 12 years the end of my island has housed the limes and the avocados, the plums and the pineapples. Most often there is a candle. If there are flowers (or berries like above) it's usually because I cut them from my dad's (or in this case - Eagles Mere's) gardens. And although I love the idea of a bigger kitchen with more space and more places to put things and a pretty view and light and a dishwasher and an exhaust fan and well you get the idea. I will miss my simple kitchen. I have crowded many a people in this kitchen. We have gathered around this island (that my amazing husband built for me 11 years ago) and talked and laughed and cried and cooked and ate. So in keeping with my gratitude list...I feel I must add my kitchen and my island. Thank you to all who have gathered here - I am thankful for your company, your food, your conversation, your advice and your love.

Sunday

We made our yearly contribution to Woolrich today. Every Larson got a new pair of shoes. I decided to splurge on Merrill shoes for the boys to see if they might wear better than the sneakers I just bought them. I know you get what you pay for; I do, I really do...but these little boys go through shoes so fast I hate spending a lot of money on them. But I guess if you have to buy two (or even three!!) pairs to make it through the school year then quality might just be the ticket. Plus these shoes are dark...definite plus with preschool boys! Enjoying just being home and doing homey things this weekend. Happy Birthday to Uncle Richard today.

Thinking of gratitude

Working on my page in the Comfort Keepers newsletter this weekend...theme is "being thankful" or "gratitude". Love this. Love the reminder. Love this time of year that is all about being thankful. I put together a "gratitude list"... 1.) Love having a pot of soup on the stove and fresh Tollhouse cookies cooling... 2.) Love Cooper's new "big boy" bed that we picked up yesterday. 3.) Love that Jane called and (long story) gave me a reason to pull out my wedding books...great memories. 4.) Love being able to walk through my pantry/back porch (those of you who know my house know what I'm talking about!) 5.) Love getting ready for the upcoming season - kicked it off with The Polar Express last night - I believe! 6.) Love that I picked up a kitchen magazine at Lowe's with tons of ideas - most I can't afford but I still love the dreaming! 7.) Love the ideas spinning around in my head about the holidays - from ways to save money, to gift ideas, to food and recipes to the music... 8.) Love my husband. 9.) Love documenting my gratitude. 10.) Love that I love (some people don't you know!).

History

Yesterday marked a historical day in history. I know I have readers that are thrilled with the election results and I also know there are those who strongly disagree. I respect both. I am glad that it is over. I may be naive but I think that we are not so divided as an election may have us believe. We all want the best for our children, we all want a strong economy, we all want good fair jobs, we all want health care, we all want to practice our faith (or lack there of) and not be judged by our neighbor and we all want peace. We all just have different beliefs about the best ways to get there. And that's okay. Yes, there are issues that some may never see eye to eye on; but I believe that true strength is accepting that and moving on. I watched the speeches of both Obama and McCain today...I cried at both. It's been a long road. Tonight I sat at my computer and decided to watch the speeches again. Cooper climbed up on my lap while I was listening to Barack's speech and I said "do you want me to turn this off?", he said "no, I want to listen...I like his voice". This has been a very emotional election for a lot of people. Peace to everyone tonight...to those celebrating and to those not.

Speaking of apples...

We are trying here to show my mother's gargantuan mutant apples. Somehow putting a quarter next to it just didn't seem like it would do the trick so we used Duncan's head. You just know Kay is probably genetically engineering those things. Probably injecting them with growth hormones and artificial fertilizers...it'd be just like her...

Applesauce

The pictures were just too pretty not to share...

Yesterday I helped my mom make applesauce with apples from her trees.

What a beautiful way to start November. While canning, my mom and I discussed the economy, the cost of groceries and the loads of canning that she used to do when we were little... We talked about how much money we saved on groceries this summer by eating out of our gardens. There is something very satisfying and beautifully simple about eating/preserving what you grow in your own backyard.

Enjoying ordinary

Marilyn Thomsen : And while it takes courage to achieve greatness, it takes more courage to find fulfillment in being ordinary. For the joys that last have little relationship to achievement, to standing one step higher on the victory platform. What is the adventure in being ordinary? It is daring to love just for the pleasure of giving it away. It is venturing to give new life and to nurture it to maturity. It is working hard for the pure joy of being tired at the end of the day. It is caring and sharing and giving and loving…

Halloween memories

It was a Super Hero Halloween.

And they're off...

It was a spooktacular evening for sure!